UBPA Exhibition

Shanghai Expo 2010 will include a new concept - the Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) - that will underscore the Expo theme of 'Better City, Better Life'.

UBPA exhibits have been chosen on a competitive basis, with applications screened by a committee that included members from United Nations agencies, international organisations and Mainland authorities.

Of 106 applications, 59 were approved for the UBPA Area, including Hong Kong's proposal to highlight the extensive use of smart card technology in the city. Here we will highlight ways this technology has improved efficiency in everyday city life and enhanced our connectivity both within Hong Kong and further afield.

The UBPA, where the Hong Kong exhibition situates, is located in the Expo Zone E in Puxi.

Theme

Smart Card．Smart City．Smart Life

UBPA Pavilion Section

Livable Cities

Content

Hong Kong's exhibition will feature the smartcard systems which have been widely adopted in the community to demonstrate how we extensively use innovative ways and technology to improve efficiency in our daily city life, promote connectivity within the city and other parts of the world and make life easier and more efficient for millions of people in the city – a perfect example of "Better City, Better Life". Through showcasing the everyday city life of Hong Kong citizens, the exhibition will demonstrate various smart card applications in payment and non-payment transactions to enable the visitors to experience the fabulous and efficient cosmopolitan life of Hong Kong.

In addition to the existing applications of smart card including Octopus card, Smart Identity (ID) Card and the Autotoll System, etc., we will explore further use of smartcard applications in new community areas such as education, medical and conservation of environment. The new applications of smart cards include the use of smart card to enhance school administration, school's communication with parents and students' learning; and the use of Smart ID Card to facilitate the rollout of elderly health care voucher as well as the reliable access to electronic health records of patients. Moreover, we will also demonstrate the new applications of the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. For example, Hong Kong International Airport is one of the only two airports in the world using RFID technology to handle passenger baggage.

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Award winning technology

The innovative use of smart cards in Hong Kong has won a number of international awards - further recognition of Hong Kong's drive for a "Better City, Better Life" through the use of technology.

Octopus Card

"Thirteen small steps to a significantly better world", Design Council Magazine, United Kingdom, 2006

Presentation

The sleek surface of the six-metre high exhibition structure is animated with interactive video graphics that are sensitive to the patterns of visitor flow. Each pixel represents an individual entering the pavilion or visiting the online exhibition (Picture 1). On entering the exhibition, visitors are immersed in an impressionistic vision of Hong Kong's many different faces in a video shown on a 360-degree circular screen that interacts with 14 vertical LED panels (Pictures 2). On the other side of the 14 vertical display panels, visitors will see digital silhouettes representing the diversity and energy of Hong Kong people. When a visitor comes close, the silhouette transforms into a virtual host who will guide the visitor to learn about smart card usage in an interactive manner. The visitor can choose to follow the host through a typical day to discover how smart cards are used in every day life (Picture 3 and 4). Visitors can further experience Hong Kong's unique connectivity through interactive portals installed at the facade. These portals are connected to other portals at Hong Kong Pavilion, as well as Hong Kong International Airport and Hong Kong Science Museum to provide real-time connections with other people. Hong Kong looks forward to expanding its reach, and connecting with more people around the world.

(Picture 1): The sleek surface of the façade is animated with interactive video graphics that are sensitive to the patterns of visitor flow.

(Picture 2): A video is shown on a 360-degree circular screen that interacts with 14 vertical LED panels to create a vibrant and engaging video experience.

(Picture 3): On the other side of the 14 vertical LED pillars, visitors are able to activate 14 virtual hosts who will showcase the extensive use of smart card and RFID technologies in Hong Kong.

(Picture 4): On the other side of the 14 vertical LED pillars, visitors are able to activate 14 virtual hosts who will showcase the extensive use of smart card and RFID technologies in Hong Kong.